§ Baroness Cumberlegeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will clarify their arrangements for midwives to be represented on primary care groups where there is no midwifery presence. [HL764]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathWe have made clear in guidance that we expect all community nurses and general practitioners to work together in partnership to ensure the success of primary care groups (PCGs). Community nurses is used as an inclusive term in guidance to encompass all nurses, health visitors and midwives who are mainly employed in the community. It is a matter for community nurses locally, working with their health authority, to decide how they will be represented on the boards of PCGs
PCG boards contain nurses who have a range of broad-based skills and specialities, including midwifery. Additional nurses with specialist skills have also been co-opted onto the boards